Baengnyeong-Daecheong Geopark

Spotted Seal
(Natural Monument)

Baengnyeongdo Island is the largest habitat in the
Republic of Korea
for the endangered spotted seal.
Designated as a Natural Monument
in 1982 for protection,
the spotted seal was also used as the mascot for
the
17th Incheon Asian Games. It is estimated that 100-300
spotted seals
inhabit the waters around Baengnyeongdo
Island.

Simcheonggak Pavilion

The sea in front of Dumujin is said to be Indangsu,
where Simcheong
sacrificed herself. Simcheonggak
Pavilion, located on the northern part of
the island, was
built overlooking Indangsu to commemorate Baengnyeong
Island as the setting for "The Tale of Simcheong".
The two-story pavilion
houses doll displays recreating
scenes from the tale, along with related
ancient books,
pansori (traditional Korean musical narrative) materials,
and
movie scripts.

Junghwa-dong Church

Baengnyeong Island is a Christian pilgrimage destination.
Located on the
southwest of the island, Junghwa-dong
Church, built in 1896, is the second
Presbyterian church
established in the Republic of Korea. Its hilltop location
presents an impressive appearance. Next to the church
is a Christian
History Museum, where visitors can explore
100 years of Korean Christian
history.

Lotus Village

Located in Yeonhwa-ri on Baengnyeong Island, the Lotus
Village was
personally created by an individual who did
everything from excavation to
construction and placement
of buildings and sculptures. It's a healing spot
where
visitors can enjoy coffee and tea while overlooking a small
lake
adorned with lotus flowers and various sculptures
touched by the owner's
hand.

ROKS Cheonan Memorial Tower

This memorial tower was erected to commemorate the
46 sailors
who lost their lives when the ROKS Cheonan
sank due to a North Korean
torpedo near Yeonhwa-ri,
Baengnyeongdo Island in 2010. It's located at
a spot
overlooking the site where the ship sank.

Daecheong Island Northernmost
Population of Common Camellias
(Natural Monument)

Daecheongdo Island, is designated as a Natural
Monument for being the
northernmost natural habitat of
camellias, a warm-temperate plant.
The term "natural
northern limit" refers to the northernmost boundary
where plant communities can grow naturally without
human intervention.
The camellia forest on Daecheong
Island has been protected since the
Japanese colonial
period due to its high academic value.

Vesper Iris
(Endangered Species Level 2)

Originally from China, the Vesper Iris now only grows
naturally in the
Daecheongdo Island area (including
Baengnyeongdo and Socheongdo
Islands). It belongs to
the iris family and is currently found only on
Daecheongdo
Island. It's designated as an Endangered Species Level 2
and is under protection.

Moraeul Beach and Red Pine Forest

The sandy beach of Daecheongdo Island was once
called Satan-dong
due to the strong winds blowing
sand around, but it was renamed Moraeul
because the
previous name had an unpleasant connotation. Behind
Moraeul Beach, known for its strong waves, there is a
distribution of red
pines forming a forest. These red
pines are about 100 years old and display
a majestic
appearance. The red pine forest behind Moraeul Beach
features
several hundred meters of walking paths,
allowing visitors to enjoy both
the beach and the pine
trails for a healing experience.

Socheong Lighthouse

Established in 1908, this lighthouse is the second one
built on the west
coast of Korea and is located at the
western tip of Socheongdo Island.
It has served as a
beacon since the Japanese colonial period, through the
Korean War, and continues to protect the lives and
property of fishermen
from both North and South Korea.

National Migratory Bird
Research Center

Opened in 2019, this center under the National Institute
of Biological
Resources serves as a stopover point for
migratory birds traveling between
Oceania and Siberia.
Located on the west coast of the Republic of Korea,
particularly on Socheong Island, which has a low human
population,
it is a place where numerous species of
migratory birds rest. Researchers
studying these
migratory birds reside on Socheongdo Island year-round.

Baengnyeong Catholic Church and
St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon Statue
on Socheong Island

Baengnyeong Catholic Church houses some relics of
Father Andrew
Kim Dae-geon, Korea's first Catholic priest
who pioneered the entry route
for Catholic missionaries.
He was selected as a seminarian at age 15 and
became
Korea's first priest in 1845, laying the foundation for the
spread of
Catholicism in the country. Within just one year,
he became an auxiliary
bishop of the Joseon Diocese
before being martyred at age 25 in 1846.
He was
beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1925 and canonized in 1984.